For more than 40 years, the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) has championed jazz and improvised music in Australia, supporting artists at every stage of their careers through performance, education, mentoring and artist development. Through flagship programs such as the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival, SIMA is helping to create a more inclusive future for jazz by expanding opportunities for women and gender-diverse musicians in a field that has historically been male dominated.

Nelson Meers Foundation is supporting a unique professional development opportunity as part of the 2026 Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival. Internationally acclaimed American cellist Tomeka Reid and her quartet, including award-winning guitarist Mary Halvorson, will deliver a masterclass and one-on-one workshops for emerging Australian musicians.

The project will provide up to 30 young musicians with access to world-class artistic mentorship, with ten participants receiving intensive individual coaching in performance and composition. By connecting emerging artists with internationally recognised female jazz leaders, the program will foster artistic excellence while contributing to greater visibility, representation and opportunity for women and gender-diverse musicians. Building on initiatives that have already begun to shift the landscape, the project recognises that lasting gender equity in jazz requires sustained investment in the next generation of artists.

Sydney: 23 October 2026